Questions to Ask When Choosing a Pediatrician

You have a baby on the way, so now's the time to find a doctor you can trust. Here's our guide to choosing the right pediatrician for your family, including what questions to ask.

Finding a doctor for your new baby is an important part of taking care of your child. While you already have plenty to think about already, the months leading up to your baby's arrival are when it's ideal to start looking for a primary care provider for your child.

Well-child visits begin soon after your baby is born, so you don't want to be scrambling to find a pediatrician during your first week with your baby. Plus, if any complications arise, you'll want to have a doctor at the ready who can step in to manage your baby's care. Learn more about how to find the right medical provider for your baby and what questions to ask a potential pediatrician.

How to Find a Medical Provider for Your Baby

When it comes to picking who will be the go-to for your baby's everyday medical care, you may have a few different choices depending on your location and health insurance plan. The following are the most common types of primary care providers who see children:

• Family doctor: A physician (MD or DO) who is qualified to treat people of all ages

• Pediatrician: A physician (MD or DO) who has specialized training in children's health
  

• Nurse practitioner or physician's assistant: A mid-level medical provider who can provide specialty pediatric care or serve more as a general family medical provider

Even before your baby is born, you can meet with select medical professionals to get a feel for how their office operates and make sure the provider you choose is someone you trust and feel comfortable with. This is also your chance to ask key questions to make sure they are a good fit for your family.

To begin your search, ask around for recommendations. You can check with anyone from your primary care or prenatal care provider and other parents in your neighborhood to the public affairs department at the nearest hospital or even a pediatric floor nurse at a local hospital or medical center. You can also check referral databases such as those offered by your health insurance provider if you have one or associations like the American Board of Pediatrics or the American Board of Family Medicine.

Related: What to Expect at Baby's First Doctor Appointment

Questions to Ask About Qualifications

Once you have a few recommendations, check the provider's credentials. The American Board of Medical Specialties is a good resource. Additionally, you'll want to ask about the following information.

If you choose a pediatrician, are they certified by the American Board of Pediatrics? Are they a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics?

If a doctor is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, this means they pursued specialized training in caring for kids and passed a specialized exam in pediatrics.

Additionally, choosing a pediatrician who is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) ensures they are highly qualified and stay abreast of the latest medical findings and recommendations in pediatric health care. These pediatricians will have an "FAAP" credential after their name, which stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

If you choose a family doctor, are they certified by the American Board of Family Medicine?

Family doctors are trained to care for patients of all ages—including children—but they do not have specialized training in pediatrics. If they are certified by the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), however, this signals the physician is highly qualified in their field.

Does the pediatrician have any specialized training?

In addition to specializing in pediatric medicine, pediatricians can also pursue a subspecialty such as pediatric cardiology, developmental-behavioral medicine, or gastroenterology, among many others.

General pediatricians often consult with pediatric subspecialists if their patient requires special care. They will also help you find the right subspecialist to add to your child's care team if necessary, so seeking out a pediatrician with specialized training as your child's primary care physician is often unnecessary. But if you already know that your child has special medical needs, it can be helpful to identify pediatric providers with knowledge in that area now.

Questions to Ask a Pediatrician

When you've narrowed your choices down, you're ready to get specific questions answered. If possible, set up interviews with prospective providers. Face-to-face meetings will give you the opportunity to get to know the doctor and staff and to ask about office policies. Here are questions to ask a potential pediatrician or family medicine doctor.

1. How long have you been in practice?

If you don't have this information already, this would be the time to ask about the doctor's experience. And while you're on the subject, consider some of the pros and cons of a doctor who is newer to the field versus one who has been in practice longer.

For example, a newer doctor may have less experience, but they may be willing to spend more time with you during visits. They may also be more likely to be in practice through your child's entire childhood through adolescence and even young adulthood. On the other hand, a doctor who has been in practice longer likely has experience in spades, but they may be more old-fashioned in their approach or stuck in their ways.

If you have concerns, ask questions that help provide a fuller picture of what the provider brings to the table. There is no right or wrong answer, so go with the person and practice you feel most comfortable with.

2. What is your philosophy of care?

When choosing a health care provider for your child, it's important that you feel comfortable and confident in how they approach children's health and pediatric medicine. Ask the provider about their views on the topics that are most important to you such as vaccination, antibiotic use, alternative and complementary medicine, breastfeeding and formula use, circumcision, nutrition, or sleep training. You may even ask them about their special interests in children's medicine.

Be sure to also ask about the office's policy on vaccinations and whether your provider requires that patients follow the recommended schedules for childhood vaccines. If you have any questions about a delayed vaccination schedule or any concerns about vaccines in general, now is a good time to address them.

3. Are you part of a group practice?

If you go with a doctor in a solo practice, find out who covers them when they are away. If the doctor you choose is part of a group practice, ask about the background of the other doctors and how often they cover for each other.

Some practices also have pediatric nurse practitioners or physician assistants on staff. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are advanced practice registered nurses with a master's or doctorate degree and specialized training in pediatric care. Physician assistants (PAs), on the other hand, are licensed and certified providers who have a master's level education.

4. How long does a typical checkup last?

Find out how long checkups with this doctor usually last and who you will see each visit. Ideally, a checkup should last at least 20 minutes, but be sure to find out if the doctor allows for extra time, especially in early visits when you will probably have the most questions.

5. How are sick visits and emergencies handled?

Some offices accommodate same-day walk-in sick visits. Other offices offer same-day sick visits but only with an appointment or only at certain times of the day. Ask about how their practice handles seeing kids when they are sick and how quickly you can expect to get in.

Many pediatric practices strive to be your child's "medical home." They may expect you to contact their practice before seeking care elsewhere so they stay involved and even advise you on where to go. Ask how after-hours emergencies and urgent medical questions are handled. Is there an after-hours line for parents to call? Do they have a provider on call?

6. How do they handle routine, non-emergency questions?

Ask if the practice has a call-in policy for routine, non-emergency questions. Some pediatricians have a specific call-in period each day when they are available to take and return phone calls. In other practices, a nurse, PNP, or PA answers routine questions over the phone during regular office hours. Find out how these phone calls are taken and if there is a charge for talking to the doctor on the phone outside of a scheduled visit.

7. Do they offer telehealth appointments?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many offices offer more virtual services, so if that's an option that you would like access to, ask what telehealth services they have available. You probably won't be able to use telehealth for things like well-child visits, but for some other situations, it can be helpful to not have to drag a sick kid into the doctor's office.

8. Do you have separate areas for sick and well-child visits?

Not all offices will offer it, but some pediatrician's offices have separate areas for sick visits and well-child visits. That could look like dedicated entrances, waiting rooms, or exam rooms that are only used for sick visits. This practice is intended to prevent contagious children who are there for a sick visit from spreading germs to babies and kids who are there for routine checkups.

Questions to Ask About the Office and Staff

While getting to know your child's prospective doctor is crucial, don't forget to consider basics like location, parking, and other practical issues when choosing a practice. If your baby is sick, you won't want to travel far or search forever for a parking spot to get to the doctor. If you travel by public transportation, look for a practice on a convenient bus or subway line.

You'll also want to assess the office off the bat. Take into consideration the cleanliness of the waiting area, how easy it is to get your questions answered, and if other patients seem to be waiting a long time. Also, how long do you have to wait on hold to speak to an actual person who can direct your call? Are the reception staff, advice line, billing office, and scheduling department helpful and friendly?

Ultimately, no matter how much you love the doctor, if the office is inconvenient or difficult to work with, you'll be unlikely to be happy enough to stay long-term. Here are some other ideas of questions to ask about the practice:

• What are the office hours and what's the best way to get in touch after-hours?

• What is the schedule for well-child visits?

• Do you accept my insurance? (Or if uninsured: Do you offer a self-pay/cash discount or payment plans?)

• Does the practice accept a variety of health plans in case my coverage changes?
  

• What are your billing and financial policies?

• Will you let me know how much services cost?

• Which hospital is the doctor affiliated with?

• What specialists are on staff?

• Is there a 24-hour phone or text line available for parents?

• What's the average wait time to be seen for sick and well-child visits?

• Am I allowed to choose which provider my child sees?

• Is there a fee charged for paying with a credit card?

Key Takeaways

Finding a pediatrician for your baby that you trust and can count on is key to safeguarding your child's health—and your peace of mind. Asking the right questions of a potential pediatrician and their office will help you find the right one for your family. But before making a decision, don't forget to ask yourself the most important question: Will you be comfortable entrusting them with your child's care?

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